Author: X_tremeroswellian
Email: [email protected]
Disclaimer: Liz, Max, Alex, Isabel, Michael, Maria and any other people you're familiar with such as Diane Evans or Kyle belong to Melinda Metz and Jason Katims and the WB. Cassie is Linda's, used with her permission. Mr. Raddish is Kara and Emily's. Alyssa and Matthew and Alan and Pete and Tonya and the ones you don't recognize are all mine.
Rating: R for language, violence and content.
Category: Well, a lot of this is about Liz, but it's also M/L, A/I, and M/M...
Spoilers: Up through "Blood Brothers" from the tv show, Roswell High book 5, and my fic, "Matters of Trust."
Author's Note: This is a sequel to my fic, "Matters of Trust" and if you haven't read it, I strongly suggest reading it before you read anymore of this one. Hold on guys, this isn't even half finished yet, I don't think...There's a long road ahead...
Feedback is always appreciated, and is very motivational!
Special Thanks to: Dana, Julie, Elizabeth, Ash, Radhika, and Windsor for all the feedback!
Ghosts (Part 20)
Maria leaned back in her chair at Chez Pierre and waited for her meal. She resisted the urge to fidget in her seat as she glanced across the table at her mother and Sheriff Jim Valenti. Instead, she looked over at Michael, who was seated next to her, looking a bit uncomfortable. He smiled at her despite himself, and she managed a small smile in return.
Then Maria looked over at Kyle and Cassie, who were talking softly to one another, and sitting more than a little close.
"Kids, there's a reason we brought you here tonight," Amy DeLuca said, nervously running her fingers around the rim of her wine glass. Jim reached over and stilled her hand, lacing his fingers through hers and smiling at her in encouragement.
Maria's eyes narrowed and she felt Michael tense slightly at her side. She waited for her mother to continue, although she had a strong feeling she knew what was coming.
"Jim proposed a week ago. I said yes." Amy waited for her daughter's reaction, a nervous, almost pleading expression on her face.
Maria glanced at Kyle to see how he'd taken the news. He was smiling. Seeing Kyle happy about getting a step-mother and a step-sister, she suddenly realized that she didn't really mind it that much, either. Sure, if it had been in high school, this whole marriage thing could have been disastorous. Sheriff Valenti had been determined back then to find out "the truth about Max Evans" and had come pretty close a couple of times. But in their senior year, he seemed to lose interest in Max and become more interested in Maria's mother.
Frankly, she was surprised that this hadn't happened sooner.
Maria smiled at her mother. "Congratulations." She got out of her seat and hurried around the table, giving her mother a big hug.
Amy DeLuca stood up, surprised that Maria seemed okay with the big announcement. She felt tears sting her eyes as she hugged her daughter. "Thank you," she whispered softly.
Maria turned to the sheriff. "If you ever hurt her in anyway, I hope you know that I'll have to kick your ass."
At the surprised look on his face, Kyle burst out laughing. "Watch it, Dad. She's not kidding. I remember the wrath of Hurricane DeLuca all the way back from Mr. Raddish's class in fifth grade."
Maria smiled back at him, and then turned to Michael, who was still a bit tense, but wearing his famous half-smile. Maybe this will work out, she thought.
"I'm fine, really. I just want to get some sleep so we can head back to school tomorrow," Liz repeated to her friends as she crawled into Maria's bed, yawning.
Alex looked doubtful. She hadn't spoken hardly all day, and then a couple hours ago she'd come out of the Evans' bedroom cheerful, like nothing had happened. When Amy and Maria finished with dinner, they'd stopped by the Evans' to pick Liz up since she was spending the night with the DeLuca's.
Which was where the six of them were now, standing in the middle of Maria's room as Liz tucked herself into bed at 9 o'clock that night.
He glanced at Max, who looked just as doubtful as he imagined he did himself. The doubt was mirrored on Michael's face, as well, while a frown of deep concern was on Isabel's.
Maria held her hands up, as if to stop a big argument from occurring. "You know, I'm tired, too, and we do have to get up early to get back. Why don't you guys all head home and pick us up around 8, okay?"
Alex met Maria's eyes and then glanced past her to Liz, who looked as though she were about to fall asleep sitting up. "Okay," he agreed. He wasn't thrilled about leaving Liz after all that had happened that morning at the funeral home. None of them were thrilled with it. He walked over to the bed, and kissed Liz's forehead. "See you in the morning."
"Okay." She smiled at him.
Alex turned and hugged Maria. "Take care of her," he said quietly.
"I will," she promised.
He took Isabel's arm and waited for the others to say their goodbyes for the evening.
Michael kissed Maria. "See you tomorrow. Bye, Liz."
"Bye."
Max, still looking doubtful, walked over to Liz. He sat down next to her. "If you need anything, call me. I wish I could stay here with you tonight."
"It's okay, Max," Liz assured him quickly. He leaned down and kissed her on the lips, softly and gently.
"I love you," he whispered.
"I love you," Liz echoed.
Max stood up and glanced at Maria, a pleading expression in his eyes. She just nodded. Then he turned and followed the others out the door.
"So how do you feel, you know? I mean, about your mom and Sheriff Valenti." Liz listened for Maria's response as she stared up at the glow-in-the-dark stars on her best friend's ceiling.
"Well, I actually...don't really mind anymore. She seems really happy. And as long as he doesn't bother the Czechoslavakians, then...I guess I'm okay with it." Maria turned her head towards Liz, though she couldn't see her in the dark. "What about you? I mean, are you really okay?"
"Yeah, I think so. I've never been close to my mother anyway so it doesn't really matter."
"What about your dad though?"
There was a long pause. "I don't care. I have you and Max and Alex and everyone. You're my family."
Maria bit her lip. "Maybe you should talk to him before we leave tomorrow, Liz."
"No. Not now. Maybe some other time."
"If you're sure."
"I am. It's not important right now. I just want to go back to school and forget everything about the past three days. Speaking of which, we should probably get some sleep before they all come back over to pick us up." Liz looked at the clock. "Cause it's after 1 now."
"Right," Maria agreed. "Night, Liz."
"Goodnight, Maria."